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THE COALITION 

OF THE 

DEIOGEACY AND THE ABOLITIONISTS 

IN OPPOSITION ^ y , i L> 



TO THE 



ADMINISTRATION OF GEN. TAYLOR 



The opposition to Gen. T4yior's Admin is- list." Thus the Whigs of the North were stig- 
tration is characterized by more violence than matized at home as betrayers of freedom, and the 
any other has encountered, perhaps, since the Whigs of the South proclaimed at league with, 
formation of political parties in the country. It fanatics and incendiaries against their own fire- 
was expected, that those who enjoyed twenty sides and hearthstones. The Southern Demoe- 
years almost of unbroken power would exhibit racy, too, under the lead of the Washingtoa 
both' sullenness and spleen when driven off from Union, singing all the while hosannas to the 



feasting' and rioting amid the spoils of office. — 
This, we say, was expected ; but there was 
reason to believe also, that men so extravagant 
in professions of Democracy, would,- for the 
sake of decency at least, submit to the will of 
the People, and conduct their partisan warfare 
with due respect to candor and fairness. Rea- 



Northern Democrats as " the natural allies of 
the South," made every shift and adopted every 
expedient to show that Northern Whigs and 
Northern Abolitionists were identical and indi- 
visible. Whether these things were spoken ia 
jest or earnest, or whether they were shallow 
tricks of the adroit and skilful in the arts of po- 



sonable as it was, the hope is disappointed ; andi litical jugglery, is a matter of little consequence, 
now all the odds and ends of faction are banded i In time they will be properly estimated; it is suf- 
together for a common purpose — the destructien ; ficient now to know, that they were anything 
of the Administration. A coalition has been j but truthful. Long before they were uttered the 
formed which, as the surest means of rallying! "natural allies" placed on record evidence. 
the friends of good government to the support of i somewhat dubious, we must confess, of their 
a National Party, it is our intention to expose, j fealty to the South. As a specimen of what 
This coalition, influenced, we are bound to be- j they mean by non-interventiun and fraternity we 
lieve, by no motive but to secure and dispense submit certain resolutions of the Legislatures of 
patronage, is the more despicable because of the Maine, New Hampshire, and Michigan, States 
rancorous enmity which s© recently existed be in which they are so powerful that their do- 
tween its prominent supporters. It is a Coalition minion may be said to be almost despotic. They 
between the Democracy and the Abolitionists, a are as follows: 

coaHtion on which the former base all their hopes | Jiesolutio'^ of Maine, passed August 3, 1847 
of restoration to power, and the latter all their « p^solved. That the sentiment of this State 
prospects of becoming the dominant ^arty. — jic jnofound, sincere, and almoat universal, that 
Against this coalition, powerful in number, j the influence of slavery upon productive energy 
base in its conception, and corrupt in principle, j is like the blight of mildew ; that it is a moral 
stands opposed a National Party, a* t&e head ofj and social evil ; that it does violence to the 



which is Zachart Taylor, with "no private 
purposes to accomplish, no party projects to 
build up, no enemies to punish — nothing to 
serve but his coimtry." 

It may be well, perhaps, before tracing the 
progress of the new coalition, to recur to past 
events, with wliich it is in some degree connect- 
ed. The question of slavery, much to the re- 
gret of all who discountenance sectional jealous 
ies and agitations, entered largely into the pub- 
lic discussions of the last Presidential canvass. 
And it will not be denied, we presume, that 
while the Northern Democracy were lavish in 
their denunciations of "Zacbart Tatloh, the 
Southern slaveholder," their political brethren of 
the South hurled anathema after anathema against 
*• MiiiARD FiiiMOBB, the Northern Abolition 



rights of man, as a thinking, reasonable, and 
responsible being. Influenced by such conside- 
rations, this State will oppose the introduction 
of slavery INTO ANY TERRITORY which 
may be acquired as an indernnity for claims upott 
Mexico." 

Resolutions of New HampAire, February 19» 
1847. 
" That the Senators and R'presentativea in 
Congress from this State be reep>ctfiilly request- 
ed to urge the passage of measure for the er- 
tinction of slavery in the Districttf Columbia^ 
for its exclusion from Oregon andyt^er Terri' 
tories that now or at any time het-after may 
belong to the United States, for ah constitU' 
tional measures for the suppression ff the dO' 
mestic tlave trade, and t» resist the cCnissunk 



^t., -> 



•f any nete State into the Union WHILE 
TOLERATING SLAVERY." 
MUtolution of the New Hampshire Democratic 
Convention. 
" Resolved, That among the doctrines of the 
Democratic party, the most important is an 
uhiding adherence to the compromises of the 
Constitution, as the anchor of safety to the 
Union itself — while at the same time none are 
more opposed than ourselves to the continuance 
mr wider extension of slavery, and that we will 
oppose so great an evil to the progress of civi- 
iization and hvmnnily whenever a proper occa- 
sion shall arrive, and by every measure con- 
eistent with the Constitution and its compromi- 
aes ; and that we deem the imputations of our 
opponents on that subject too false to be worthy 
»f regard, too frivolous to be deserving of an 



■jocracy and Free-soil at the Congressional elec- 
tions in Connecticut, by which the opponents of 
the Administration gained three members in the 
House of Representatives. The successful can- 
didates of this combination were Chauncet F. 
Cleveland, Loreu P. Waldo, and Walter 
Booth. And here it were well to note the fact 
that Gov. Cleveland and Mr. Waldo were on 
the Cass electoral ticket voted for in November. 
The letter of the first-named gentleman was read 
in the Free-soil convention for the third Congres- 
sional district, which met at Norwich, March 13, 
1849. We give the following extracts: 

" Hamfton, March 10, 1849. 
" H. Hammond, Esq. 

" Dear Sir : Your letter of the 8th Inst., ask- 
ing me to answer certain questions which you 



«wer, too inconsistent, coming, as they do, from i propounded, is received, and I embrace the first 
mien who oppose the concession of an hour's opportunity afforded me, to forward you are- 



respite from labor to our own white laborers of 
the North, to rise to a point where they may be 
reached by any other sentiment than contempt. 
flO^ For we declare it our solemn conviction, as 
the Democratic party have heretofore done, 
that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude 
should hereafter exist in any territory which 
may be acquired by or annexed to the Uniteit 
States, and that we approve of the votes of 
our delegates in Congress in favor of the Wil- 
mot Proviso." j;^ 

Resolutions of Michigan — March, 1, 1847. 

" That in the acquisition of new territory, 
•whether by purchase, conquest, or otherwise, we 
deem it the duty of the General Government to 
extend over the same the Ordinance of 1787 
{being the one prohibiting slavery northwest of 
the Ohio,) with all us rights and privileges, con- 
ditions, and immunities." 

These confessions of faith, it must be conced 
ed, are not quite in union with the Southern 
platform which the Democracy have erected and 
abundantly prove withal, that t^e most trusted 
allies sometimes become the most trtorherous 
friends 

After this, there is no longer occasion for the 
Democratic orators and Democratic press at the 
South to waste breath on Giddings and Palfi-ey. 
The ra.sol«tions we have quoted, will answer 
erery purpose in alarming the people of the 
South. Besides they foreshadowed the very con 
dition of things which Jias finally come about, 
•nd which the signal /defeat of General Lewis 
Cass for the Presid^cy served to hasten, the 
Coalition of the Dem>eracy and the .Abolitionisti) 
The first fruit of t>^« coalition was the election 
•f Salmow p. P«a8b, United Stales Senator, 
from the State >f Ohio, in place of William 
Allen. The /"ree-Hoilers had two votes in 
fcoth branches yf the LegislatuK', and yet they 
«omj)clle(i th/ I.>eniorracy to elect an avowed 
Abolitionist * tiie United Staten Semite, in con- 
dderation </»eeuring certaiu judgeships for their 
Ciithful folfwcrs. 

The nf't evidence we have of this coaliti 
i* the co^I'lete union 



ply." 

" Without my knowledge, and against my 
wishes, a Convention of my friends assembled at 
Norwich, on the 15th of February last, placed 
me in nomination for the office of Representa- 
tive, in the ne.it Congress of the United States 
for this District, and you inquire of me whether, 
if elected (an improbable event by the way) I 
will sustain that measure which proposes to ex- 
clude slavery from the Territories of New Mex- 
ico and California? Whether I will do all in 
my power to abolish slavery and the slave trade 
in the District of Columbia 1 And whether I am 
opposed to, and will continue to oppose, in all 
constitutional ways, the admission of any more 
slave States into the Union ? 

" To these inquiries I have to reply that, en- 
tertaining no doubt of the power of Congress to 
legislate upon the subject of slavery in the Ter- 
ritories, / am decidedly in' favor of its exer- 
cise, in such a manner as will effectually prevent 
the introduction of slavery and its attendant 
evils into New Mexico and California, and into 
any Territory of the United Sfates now free. 
That regarding the existence of slavery and the 
slavetrade in the District of Jolunibin, a.v a great 
ind unmitigated wrung. I A.M IN FAVOR 
OK THEIR ABOLITION in the most easy 
speedy, a„d practicable manner, by the action 
of Congress. And being uncompromisingly op- 
posed to the extension of slavery beyond the 
limits within which it now exists, I could never 
consent to the admission of any more slave 
btates into the Union. 

" The only remaining inquiry propounded by 
your letter, .s in the following words : ' Do you 
subscribe in the main, to the principles of the 
Huttiilo Plattorm, as erected at the Buffalo Con- 
vention, held August .9, 1848 V 

" In reply to this enquiry, I would state that I 
have examined the resolutions composing the 
atforrn referred to, and in the main, think them 
to be Democratic. One of those resolutions is 
in relation to cheap postage, &c., and another in 
relation (..the disposition which should be made 
of the Public T.«n-to These resolutions are in 



we imve oi mis coa ition, niviuflfrm^n. « 1 •■■-— """.-a ttif, jn 



FULLY SUBSCRIBE TO THE DOCTRINES 
THEY CONTAIN." ^ , . ,. r „„ 

« I have thus briefly, though I beheve fully 
answered the several inquiries which you have 
been pleased to propound to me And it only 
remains for me to say that should I be honored 
with an election to the post for which I have 
been nominated, these views which I have ex- 
pressed will be fearlessly asserted and faithtuUy 

defended." 

" Very respecthiUy, 

" Your friend and servant, 

" C. F. CLEVELAND." 
These pledges of absolute servitude to the Abo- 
litionists secured their nomination to Ex-Gov. 
Cleveland, which was subsequently accepted- 
His letter of acceptance, of March IT, 1849, 
reiterates the same opinions. We have space 
only for the following pertinent extracts : 

" The principles which they [the resolutions 
of the Free-soil Convention] declare, and the 
spirit pervading them, have my entire and hearty 
approbation. They are, in every sense oj the 
word, democratic and true. And I rejoice to be- 
lieve that they meet with a warm response from 
the honest hearts of the Democracy of Connec- 
ticut. Entertaining these views, 1 accept the 
nomination which the friends of Free-soil m this 
Congressional district have so generously tender- 
ed me. ^ ^ 



dence between Mr. Waldo and Mr. W. H. Bur- 
leigh, thecatechist of the Free Soilers. It speak» 
for itself: 



" I am happy to know that these sentiments 
ropposition to slavery and the slayetrade in the 
District of Columbia, and to its further exten- 
sion] pervade the masses of the Democracy of 
the North and the great West, and that through 
its vital principles of progression, and its tho- 
rough identification with the spirit of the age, 
the Democratic party, in those vast^ sections oj 
country, is fast unshackling itsdf from all con-^ 
nexion with slavery, and becoming truly free. 

., -a. * * * 



« Mv position as the candidate of the Demo 
cratic Convention, holden at Norwich, on the 
15th ultimo, for the same office for which your 
Convention selected me, led me to a very care- 
fol examination of the resolutions which you for- 
warded to me, and upon which I have here briefly 
expressed my opinions ; and I was happy to find 
Xt the princ^les embodied in those resolutions 
were so truly democratic that 1 could accept 
your nomination without forfeiting t^f'^^^ 
lus confidence of fritnds ^^^have hitheito 
stood by and sustained me, and for whose par- 
tSlity and kindness I can never j,e too gmteful. 

" C F. CLEVELAND 
« Messrs, E. Perkins and Prescott May, Sec- 
retaries, &c." 

Mr. Chauncey F. Cleveland cerUmly march 
ed up with fervent alacrity, considering he is a 
"natural ally of the South." to the pr"}ciple« «f 
the Buffafo Convention. Not a whit behind 
SSi, h^ever, were Messrs. Waldo and Booth^ 
iSh of them subscribed ful y to the faith and 
each of them became duly adopted in the Aboli- 
tion household. The following i5 thecorrespon- 



Mr. Burleigh's letter. 

" Hartford, March 27, 1849. 

« To L. P. Waldo, Esq. 

" Dear Sir : As you are a candidate for Coa- 
gress from this District, I take the liberty to ad- 
dress to you the following questions, soUciting 
your answers for publication : 

" 1 Do you believe that Congress has the 
power to exclude slavery, by legislative enact- 
ments, from the territories, and, if elected, would 
you give your vote and influence for such ex- 

d,US%07X • 

" 2 Do you believe that Congress has the 
power to abolish slavery and the slave trade itt 
the District of Columbia, and wherever they 
exist under the jurisdiction of the General Gov- 
ernment, and, if elected, would you give your 
vote and influence in favor of tuch abolition? 
" Respectfully yours, 

" W. H. BURLEIGH." 

Mr. Waldo's Reply. 

" Tolland, 31arch 28, 1849. 
Wm. H. Burleigh, Esq. 
" Sir • I have just received yours of the ^liO. 
inst., soliciting for publication my answers ta 
certain interrogatories therein stated. 

•• I have not time to reply to these interroga- 
tories as I could wish, and shall only briefly say, 
that to your first inquiry my aruwer Ii> tn toe 

""•^'^Tyom second inquiry I would reply, that 
/ have ALWAYS MAINTAINED that Con- 
gress had the power to regulate and abolish the 
histitution of slavery in districts exclusively un- 
der its legislative control, and that it should ex- 
ercise this power in a reasonable manner, having 
for its object the speedy and entire abrogation of 
all laws in such districts, authorizing any man 
to hold his fellow man in bondage. 

" In whatever position I may be called to act, 1 
shall, unless my views are materially changed, 
be governed by the sentiments herein expressed, 
and my highest ambition will be satisfied if I 
may, in any manner, be instrumental m elevat- 
Tg'^^he condition of suffering Jumamty wherever 
found, or in contributing to the relief of the op- 

pressed." . ,, 

« Yours, respectfully, ^ _ _ _ „ 
" LOREN P. WALDO." 

The character of this Mr. Burleigh whom 
Mr Waldo so graciously assures, that it will ever 
be hrh.ghest^mbitionto -contribute to the 
relief of the oppressed," should not be lost sight 
of ta this connexion. In fanaticism and bitterna^ 
he is first among the Abolitionists of Connect*- 
II He is the^editor of au Abolition journa^ 
and not more than a year or two before \h is cor- 
respondence, the Democracy indignant at hi» 
course on the Mexican War, gathered a mob 
about hU premises, and threatened to destroy 
hb IS He was'fitly chosen then as the tn. 
strument of a coalition between the men wiu» 
mobbed hiai, and his Abolition associates. 



The letter of Mr. Booth embodied the same |divisions of its party, thus rebuked a contempora- 
4»ntiments as those of Mcbsts. Cleveland and ry for pressing the pretensions of Mr. Van 



Waldo. At all events it satisfied the Abolition- 
ists, among whom it was secretly circulated, and 
secured their votes. 

The obligation of mutual "aid and comfort" 
between the high-contracting parties in Connec- 
ticut was not cancelled, however, by the result 



Shaick 

" The New York Evening Post seems bent 
on defeating the election of a Democratic May- 
or, and does not hesitate to recommend Mr. Van 
Shaick because He has been a friend of the Free- 
soilers. Can this perturbed spirit of the Free- 



of the Congressional elections. It was in full soil clique never sleep 
force when the Legislature assembled the 2d of ^ On Tuesday, however, the Union volunteer- 
May, at Hartford, on which, in consequence of ed to act as pacificator. It then said : " Unless 
a failure to elect by the people, the choice oi the Democrats unite their votes in favor of one 
State officers devolved. The Senate wa^s de-^^candi date they will be defeated." Recurring to 
cidedly Whig-, but the House was in the hands | the subject onThursday, it manifested its anxiety 
of the Democracy and the Abolitionists, and the | for the success of ihe coalition as foUews : 



officers of that body were parcelled out share and 
share alike between them. And on the joint 
vote of the two Houses for State officers, while 
only one of the "Free Democracy" voted for 
the W hig candidates, eleven went straight-out for 
€he candidates of their Radical allies. The 
remainder, nine in all, either threw away their 
▼otes or did not vote at all. 

Over this victory of the Coalition of the De- 
mocracy and the Abolitionists the Washington 
Union, maugre all its clamor for the rights of the 
•South, rejoiced as lustily as the most ultra of the 
**Free Democracy." We subjoin the following 
;^ecimens of its merry-making : 

From the Union of April 5th, 1849. 

" If the Democrats have carried three mem- 
bers of Congress it will serve to show that the 
Democracy of the Union is rallying — that they 
have gained ground in Connecticut as well as in 
New Hampshire — and that it requires only great- 
er exertion to redeem entirely the defeat of No- 
vember last. It also shows that the next House 
of Representatives may be redeemed." 

From the Union of April 6th, 1849. 

*' The ultra Whig press is attempting to de- 
preciate the recent Democratic victory in Con- 
necticut. The victory, at least, seems now to be 
conceded. And this important result seems also 
to be certain : that in all great party questions 
WE obtain three more votes from the land of 
steady habits than we had before, making a dif- 
ference of six voles in favor of the republican 
party compared with the last House of Repre- 
sentatives. This result will animate the Democ- 



From the Union of April 5, 1849. 

" A correspondent in New York writes us, on 
Monday night, that ' If Van Shaick be nominat- 
ed for Mayor to-night by the Democratic con- 
vention, (at Tammany Hall,) he will be elected ; 
the Barnburners having PREVIOUSLY nomi- 
nated him.' But the New York Courier of 
Tuesday, says that, ' after a strong debate, (the 
night beiore,) the hunker convention succeeded 
in nominating for Mayor, F. B. Cutting, Esq., 
as their candidate, by a vote of 29 to 23.' " 

And the next day, it cheerly announced that 
"the Democrats had united their votes in favor 
of one candidate," and that candidate was Mr. 
Van Shaick. We give its own language : 

From the Union of Friday, April 6, 1849. 

" Mr. Cutting declines the nomuiation, and 
the Convention of Tammany Hall has nominat- 
ed Mr. Van Shaick as the democratic candidate. 
The New York True Sun speaks in high terras 
of his qualifications, and says all candid men 
admit that "his election is as nearly certain as 
any future event can be." We re-echo another 
sentiment of the True Sun ; " Mr. Van Shaick's 
election may be considered certain, and we can- 
not but express the confident hope that it will 
result not only in a great advantage to the Pub- 
lic WELFARE, but olsi in securing the integri- 
ty and ascendency of the Democratic party in 
the City and State." 

The gratulations of the Union, nevertheless 
its coqucttmg and wooing with the Barnburners, 
were a little too hasty. The fierce Democracy of 
New York were too mindfulof past injuries, to be 



racy of Vikiuwia and all the other States which sold so cheaply to "the perturbed spirit of the 



have yet to vote." 

Encouraged by this brilliant example, the De- 
mocracy of the city of New York, surrendered 
to the F'rce-Roilers at the spring election. Their 
candidate, for the Mayoralty having declined, 
they immediately adopted Mtndiikut Van 
Shaick, the Free- soil candidate; and, in con- 
Bidcration of thin concession, the Frre-soilcrs 
refrained from noniinating judicial tickets. No- 
thing loth, that high-mettled rham])ion of South 



Free soil clique." Mr. Van Shaick was conse- 
quently defeated. 

Near about the same time the Democracy and 
Abolitionists of Wisconsin were eai^nestly occu- 
pied, framing a compact of their own. The his- 
tory, and the terms of it, are stated by one of the 
parties, as follows : 

From the " Daily Wisconsin" of April 9. 
" The U.NiTED Democracy of Wiscousiif.^ 
We learn that, previous to the adjournment of 



crn iiistitutioHH, the Washington Un!<ni, in an- 1 the Legislature, the Democrats and Free-soil 
tiripatioii of another " Democratic victory," was ers perfected a union on the basis of sound prin- 
mtnong the first to invoke blessings on the mere- cijjles, and that, in consequence thereof, but one 
tricious connexion. That pai)er, of Sunday, •*>'«/<• roHtrnhon is to be called next fall for the 
-April l8t, 1849, prior to the union of the (wo | nomination of Governor, &c., to be represented 



by two delegates from each Assembly district in 
the State. 

" It has long been perceived that the differen- 
ces were a mere matter of organization. That 
tenacity has fortunately yielded, and now the 
Democrats who supported Cass and Van Buren 
will work together, and thus secure in Wiscon- 
sin a Democratic majority alike impregnable to 
the efforts and seductions of the Taylor Admin- 
istration. The united majority of Cass and 
Van Buren over Taylor was 11.000 We can 
scarcely expect so large a majority hereafter, as 
many Whigs who acted with the Free-soil party 
will jom the Taylor party ; but we can give the 
largest Democratic majority of any State in the 
Union. 

" It is pertinently suggested that the example 
of the Democracy of our glorious State will be 
found loorthy of emulation in othir States. We 
have a natural pride in saying that Wisconsin is 
the pioneer State, where this Union has been 
first consummated." 

The "basis of sound principles" on which the 
union was effected, is disclosed in the following 
resolutions : 

" Resolved, That while we will faithfully ad- 
here to all the compromises of the Constitution, 
and maintain all the reserved rights of the States, 
we declare, since the crisis has arrived when 
that question must be met, our uncornpromising 
hostility to the extension of slavery into any 
Territory of the United States which is now 
free. 

" Resolved, That in organizing governments 
for New Mexico and California, <Ae introduction 
and existence of slavery in those Territories 
should be positively prohibited by act of Con- 
gress. 

" Resolved, That there should be no more 
Slave States admitted into the Federal Govern- 
ment. 

" Resolved, That the national laws recogniz- 
ing or sustaining slavery or the slavetrade in the 
District of Columbia, or any other place under 
control of the Federal Government OUGHT TO 
BE IMMEDIATELY REPEALED." 

The example of the Democracy of Wisconsin 
was "found worthy of emulation in other States." 
The Democracy of Vermont made quite as full 
a surrender to the Abolitionists. The two par- 
ties in that State, by previous understanding 
doubtless, met in separate Conventions the 3 let 
of May, at Montpelier. 

The Democracy, true to their progressive doc- 
trines, closed the sittings of their Convention, 
and marched off with flying colors into the Con- 
vention of the Abolitionists. The joint con- 
cern then nominated a ticket for State officers, 
"which we will endeavor to sample out fairly. — 
The candidate for Governor is Horatio Need- 
ham, formerly the candidate of the Liberty par- 
ty for Lieutenant Governor, of which he vras 
for many years a distinguished supporter. — 
Daniel Roberts, Jr., another remnant of the 
Liberty Party— one of the " 319" in the whole 
State who voted for James G. Birney, the Abo- 



lition candidate for the Presidency in 1840 — is 
the candidate for Lieutenant Governor. And Jo- 
seph Poland, who was for five years the editor of 
the Organ of the Liberty party in the State, is 
the candidate for State Treasurer The resolu- 
tions adopted, so far as they relate to slavery, 
were the following : 

"Resolved, That, as liberty is the clearest right 
and dearest imterest of the individual, and its 
security the highest duty of the body politic, we 
declare, as the first point and article in this or- 
ganization, that American slavery is a great evil 
and wrong, which ought to be repented of and 
abandoned. 

Resolved, That we claim no authority in the 
Federal Government to abolish slavery in the 
several States, but we do claim for it constitu- 
tional power perpetually to prohibit the intro- 
duction of slavery into territory now free, and 
abolish it wherever, under the jurisdiction of 
Congress, it exists. 

Resolved, That this power ought immediate- 
ly to be exercised in prohibiting the introduction 
and existence of slavery in New Mexico and 
California, in abolishing slavery and the slave 
trade in the District of Columbia, on the high 
seas, and wherever else, under the Constitution,^ 
it can be reached. 

Resolved, That no more slave States should 
be admitted into the Federal Union." 

Next in the order of succession follows the 
Barnburners of New York city, under the aus- 
pices of Benjamin F. Butler. He proposes to 
unite the followers of the Buffalo Convention, 
the supporters of Van Buren, and the supporters 
of Cass throughout the Slate, against the Ad- 
ministration of President Taylor. The pro- 
gramme of this proposed movement was put 
forth in a series of resolutions, passed June 18, 
1849, by a set of individuals who call them- 
selves the "Democratic Republican Committee of 
the city and county of New York." We annex 
such of them as are pertinent to the matter in 
hand : 

" Resolved, That to protect this great interest, 
[the interest of the Free-soil party,] and to en- 
sure, in other respects, a sound administration 
of public affairs, it is indispensable that there 
should be a reunion of the Democratic party 
on the great principles of human rights pro- 
mulgated in the Declaration of Independence, 
and set forth in the inaugural address of its au- 
thor ; and that we hail, with unmingled satis- 
faction, the beginnings of this reunion in the 
measures lately taken in Wisconsin, Vermont, 
and several other States. 

" Resolved, That, to make the proposed union 
permanent and effectual, it must come spontane- 
ously from themselves, and must be founded in 
a clear recognition of fundamental principles ; 
and ih&t paramount among these, in the present 
state of our national affairs, is the Jeffersonian 
policy, of prohibiting, after the manner of the 
Ordinance of July 13, 1787, the existence of 
human servitude, except as a punishment for 
crime, in the new free territories of th» Untied 
St'ites." 



None who have watched the current of events 
for the last two or three months can doubt that 
this " reunion of the Democratic party on the 
great principles of human rights," for which the 
pious Mr. Butler so devoutly prays, will be quickly 
consummated* Indeed, preliminaries for the re- 
nnion of those discordant elements of the Demo 
cratic party, the Hunkers and Barnburners, the 
disciples of "the colored abolitionist" Frederick 
Douglass, the followers of Van Buren, and 
those of Cass and Butler, arc already agreed 
upon. And in a few days it is presumable, 
that the treaty of alliance between them will be 
promulgcd in due form at Albany. 

That this coalition is to extend to all th 
free States of the Union, is too plain to be 
questioned. It is plain, too, that it is a coali- 
tion, which, to a certain extent, has the con- 
nivance, if not the concurrence of tlie Democracy 
of the South. Their Organ, or the paper which 
has assumed that character, the Washington 
Union, is forsomuch almost as deeply impli- 
cated in it as Joshua R. Giddings, Joshua Lea- 
vitt, or Benjamin F. Butler. We have seen 
its exultation at the triumph of the coalition in 
Connecticut, and its solicitude also for the suc- 
cess of Van Shaick, the Free soiler in the 
city of New York. We have seen it proclaim 
the election to Congress of men pledged to the 
principles of the Buffalo Convention, a "Demo- 
cratic victory,-" and we have seen it hail with 
undisguised satisfaction the nomination for a 
high municipal office of one who, despite of its 
invectives, .stood by the nominees of that Con 
vention. Is there no hypocrisy, no double- 
dealing, no deception in this^ Is the Union 
true or false to its colors f* Its own conduct must 
determine. Let us see what it thought in times 
past of such coalitions. We make brief ex- 
tracts from its columns a year back. 

From the Union of August 17, 1848. 
" This is practical Abolition, [the resolutions 
of the Buflalo Convention,] and its effect is 
obvious. It places Mr. Van Buren in the hands 
of the Abolitionists and of those abolitionizing 
Whigs who form so large a portion of the Whig 
party in Massachusetts and Ohio, and who are 
numerous also in the Wiiig ranks in New York. 
The Norther/i Democracy, on the other hand — 
even the fiercest of the rank-and file of the 
" Barnburners" in New York — will shrink from 
such company." 

From the Union of August 18, 1848. 
"Can they [the Democrats of New York] 
witness the proceedings of the Bufl^alo Conven- 
tion WITHOUT THE DEEPEST ni.SiJUST. » • » 

And Mr. Van Biirtn sinks into the champion of 
SUCH A DisiiisTrNG COALITION, to gratify his am- i 
bition or to satiate his revenge !" 

" The DL-mocrats of the State of New York 
hare every motive that can animate high-mind- 
ed men and imloniitablu Ke|)iiblicanB, to cast out 
THESK FACTIOUS BARNHl'RNKRS who, 
would sacrifi«c the Union to their posstions. — 
These men arr worse than Whifrg." 



From the Union of August 19, 1848. 
The Buffalo Convention. — The more we 
hear of their actions from those who witnessed 
them, the mere we see of their speeches and 
resolutions, the more we are DISGUSTED with 
their proceedings. Their kesolutioms abe 

ULTRA- ABOLITIONISM." 

From the Union of August 20, 1848. 
" Both parlies are deservedly indignant at the 
movement, [the Buffilo resolutions.] because it 
is calculated to build up a new " northern 
party" on the most mischievous of all distinc- 
tions in a confederacy of States — sectional 
feelings and geographical interests." 

From the Union of August 24, 1848. 
" But there is one feature in the disgusting 
pirouettes of this man [Martin Van Buren] 
which marks his character. We do not speak 
of the motley and monstrous character of the 
convention to which he owes his nomination, 
DISGRACEFUL as that coalition is." 
* « * * * « 

" It is his appealing to sectional feelings, to 
geographical lines, to build up a northern 
party — of all others the most fatal to the union 
of these States — warned as he was by Washing- 
ton, and pledged by his own solemn declara- 
tioHS — if Martin Van Buren could be bound 
by any solemn declarations." 

"In the mean time. We repeat what we have be- 
lore asserted, that the Barnburners stand upon 
immeasurably worse ground than the Whigs, 
because of their placing themselves upon a sec- 
tional party, so threatening to th* Union of our 
country." 

Such were the anathemas of the Union 
against the Free-soilers in 1848. Where are 
those anathemas now I Is it possible that he 
who could not speak of the Buffalo Convention 
"without the deepest disgust," who denounced 
its followers as " desperate and selfish faction- 
ists," who proclaimed its resolutions "ultra- 
abolitionism," who appealed to the Republicans 
of New York "to cast out the factious Barn- 
burners" whom he derided as "worse than 
Whigs" — is it possible that he has no voice of 
warniHg for the South ' Is not the union of the 
Democracy and the Abolitionists in New York, 
Ohio, Connecticut, Vermont, and Wisconsin, 
soon to be perfected every where, " a disgrace- 
ful coalition '" Are not the resolutions of their 
Conventions as pregnant with "practical aboli- 
tion" as those which were passed at Buffalo J 
Are not they, too, "building up a Northern 
party," are they not creating "the most mis- 
chievous of all distinctions in a confederacy of 
States — sectional feelings and geographical in- 
terests >" Why, then, is the Union less indig- 
nant now than in 1848 ' Is it the tempting 
prospect of the spoils of office, wliich it expect* 
the Democracy to enjoy four years hence by the 
overthrow of (Jen. Taylok's Administration, 
through the instrumentality of this "disgusting 
coalition," that thus ties its tongue and bushee 
itf speech.' 



There are still other grounds for belieying that 
the Union has no longer any feeling of disgust 
towards these proceedings. Almost contempora- 
neous with the consummation of these several 
coalitions, Mr, Ritchie announced his intention 
to bring into his establishment an associate edi 
tor "from the North or Pforthwest." Here is 
the announcement to which we allmde : 

From the Union of April 17, 1849. 
" We owe every thing to our principles and 
our party, and we are making arrartgiments to 
infuse such further talent and energy into 

OTTR PAPER AS THE OCCASION OBVIOUSLY REQUIRES. 

We have great confidence in our cause, as well 
as in ourselves ; great confidence in the associate 
whom we shall attempt to bring into our es- 
tablishment FROM THE North or Northwest : 
and we trust we are not mistaken when we add, 
great confidence in the Republican party. We 
shall stand by them ; and we appeal to them to 
Stand by us." 

A month later the mystery was unveiled, and 
the associate turned up in the person of En.MUFn 
Burke, the Ex-C»mmissioner of Patents. And 
who, pray, is Mr. Burke ? We only answer, 
whatever he may be, he is a slavery restriction 
ist, a Wilmot provisoist. Here is the proof. 
When the bill " to organize a territorial govern- 
ment in the Territory of Oregon, and for other 
purposes," was under consideration in the House 
of Representatives, Monday, February 3, 184fi, 
the following amendment was proposed to the 
6th section : 

" Provided, hoioever, That there shall be nei- 
ther slavery nor involuntary servitude in the 
said Territory, otherwise than in the punishment 
of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly 
convicted." — Globe, 2tZ sess. 28th, Cong p. 236. 

For this amendment, Edmund Burkk, then 
a member of Congress from New Hampshire, 

voted; and this vote, according to Mr. Ritchie, the peace of the country ^ and, finally, because 
makes him before all the world, an enemy of the it is this party which is to secure wholesome 
South, a sympathiser with a party of geographi laws, and protect the rights of all classes m the 
cal divisions and sectional interests! But this Republic _ 

is not all. Somewhere about the year 1837 or This party holding to these prmciples as the 
'38, he edited a paper, at Newport, New only guaranty of a well regulated government; 
Hami>shire, called the "Argus and Spectator," liberal, just, and bemficent in its aims, is and 
and through its columns propagated appeals to must be the Party of the People. Uniting under 
"Democratic AboUtionists." He found no fault the flag of the Constitution, not Whigs alone, 
♦lipn with those wayward disciples of Democra but Independent Democrats, in every section of 
cy for "dissenting from slavery, and desiringj the country, it battled against the usurpations and 
its' removal." Keenly cautioned them 



sentiments proclaimed in his " Reply to the 
Charleston Mercury" of March 27th, 1847 .' 
Does it belong to him to declare, *^ from first to 
last we have rejected and condemned the doctrine 
of the Wilmot proviso?" Has he "rejected 
and condemned" the Democratic Abolitionists of 
New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Connecticut and 
Vermont, has he cast out Edmund Burke with 
his Wilmot proviso doctrines ! Now, we do not 
mean to charge the Southern editor of the Union 
with changing his opinions on the question of 
slavery, but we do charge him with suppressing 
those he is known to entertain, with condemn- 
ing himself to silence, and again with rejoicing 
and exulting, while "unhallowed combinations" 
and "disgraceful coalitions" are going on be- 
tween the Democracy aiid the Abolitionists, for 
the benefit and advantage of the Democratic 
family. This is our charge, and this much we 
think we have proved. 

The cement of this Coalition, undeniably, 
is opposition to the Administration of General 
Taylor, to embarrass and finally to break down 
which, is the highest ambition of these despicable 
factionists A great Northern Party, embracing 
every creed and every opinion, a party of geo- 
graphical divisions and sectional feuds is to be the 
consummation of their " bargain, intrigue, and 
corruption." Against them, their plots and machi- 
nations, the Whigs of the North and the Whigs 
of the South, discarding all differences of opin- 
ion as to slavery, have rallied a National Party. 
This party, republican in principle and national 
in its objects, they invite all who desire the peace,. 
jMrosperity, and glory of a people, undivided and 
indivisible, to unite with. They invite all the 
patriotic aad conservative to unite with themj 
because it is this narty which is to preserve the 
Constitution inviolate alike from the assaults 
of Northern fanatics and Southern disunionists ; 
because it is this party which is to maintain 



to be 
wareand"not ge't entrapped in the toils of Feder 
alism." Now he maligns Gen. Taylor for hav- 
ine called Mr. Bwing and Judge CoUamer into his 
cabinet What a fit associate for the guardian 
of Southern rights, is a slavery restrictiomst and 
the friend of "Democratic Abolitionists ! VV hat 
b this, we would inquire, but one of those un^ 
hallowed combinations" which formerly aroused 
all the ire. and excited the "deepest Ji«g"^t in 
M Rtrhie ! ^""' ■'»'•'•= ^^ *" denounce IN ortn 



corruptions of a reckless Administration, and 
carried Zachaby Taylor triumphantly into the 
Presidency. And now that he is pursued by a 
factious minority, now that the Democracy and 
the Abolitionists have coalesced with a view to 
defeat his administrative policy, this party ad- 
heres the more firmly to his fortunes. It wiU 
stand by, and sustain, and cheer him on in per- 
fecting the work of purification and reform, m 
which the people feel so profound an interest. 

I ;i v.\y^ qc an "imbecile. 




the South 



8 

shake his unconquerable will, nor impair the ] not expect, therefore, to witness a lack of hiss- 
confidence of his friends in his honesty of pur- ing and venom when the hero of Palo Alto, Re- 
pose, nor yet in his ability and determination to saca, Monterey, and Buena Vista, came by their 
restore the Government to what it was in the; authority to put down the spoilsmen and corrup- 
days of the earlier Presidents. A corrupt Press, ' tionists whom power had made insolent and reck- 
under the lead of the Washington Union, may j less. Let these libellers rail on, then, without 
charge riim again and again with a "violation stint ; they have no power to injure. The Peo- 
of solemn pledges," may characterize him as a! pie, in very loathing and disgust of the vile coa- 
•' whitened sepulchre," and proclaim it far and lition to which they pander, will rally around 
wide that the President of the People is «• dis- the Administration, and bear it successfully 
gracing himself," but even this vituperation will tluough its trials, in proud defiance of its mali- 
fail to break the force and power of his name cious and revengeful assailants. 

with the warm hearted, incorruptible masses, j - — — > — ' ' ■ • 

They know too well how to count the value; * It i^ deemed appropriate to republish here, 
of such filthy outpourings from these political ^hat Thomas Ritchie, the .SouMern Editor of 
sewers, to be disturbed thereby. They remem- *^^ Washington Union, once thought of Gen. 
ber that Washington,., by universal consent, •^^''^son, whose most obsequious flatterer he sub- 
one of the purest men of his or any other age, sequently became, and also Gen. Jacksom's esti- 
was exposed to similar abuse because he was ''^^'"^ ° hisJibeller: 

firm and exact in the discharge of his Executive: From the Richmond Enquirer of 1824. 
duties. They know every act of his Adminis- " !Ve cannot consent to lend a hand toward 
trationwas censured, and he himself, "Father of '^'« election of such a ?nan as Andrew Jackson." 
his Country " as he was, decried as a monarch " ^^ would deprecate his election as jl curse 
its, and denounced as guilty of inci\ism, and as "i""* our country. 

the patron of kingly forms and ceremonies. " "^"^ who, in any great crisis, tcould convert 
They know that J KFFEHsoN, the great Apostle of '^'« ^'''"'^e country into one great camp, mA. 
Democracy, was made the victim of innumerable would reduce almost everything under martial 

libels, and his measures ridiculed in the pasqui- "^'r, , . . , . , , ^ ,. . 

— - "Compare him with Adams and Crawford, 



nades of Bryant, the editor of the New York , , ■ r ■ , , 

Evening Post, now a prominent character in ^^''f J^oio inferior must he he : 
coalition against Gen. Taylor's Administration. ^^^ '^^'^ commend General 

They know that James Bdchanan, after charg- 
ing Madison with "involving the country in a 
disgraceful war, from which it was extricated 



Jackson's modes- 
ty in retiring from the Senate and the bench, 
where he discovered the superior qualijicationg 
of other people. Can we say as much for hia 



.^ r r\ " . J r modesty wheu he is now aspiring to the highest 

by a more disgraceful peace, was stopped for '^^^ -^ ^j^.^ ^^^jj^^^ ,„ ^ ^ ^ 

sheer want of time only, on a certain memorable . ^^, -^ ^^^ ^ .„^^ '^^ ^ statesman, too rash, too 
occasion Iroin recounting all « the other Wun- L,j,;,^^ ■„ ;,.^ ,^ / l^j^ .measures too much in- 
dcrs of that Democratic Administration. They Llined to arbitrary government, to obtain the 
kn iw too that Thomas Ritchie, once of the i„,mble support of the editor of this paper." 
Richmo.d En,uirer, now of the Washington .< jp7,„^ kind of a President would this great 

civilian make ? A gentleman who cannot in- 
terpret the plain expression of one law ; and 
yet would be called upon to administer all the 
laws of the land ! One whose ideas are so purely 
military, thai he would transmute a traitor into 
a spy, or would punish treason, not by the civil 



Union, vas foremost among those who let loose 
the viaU of wrath on Jackson, when, in obedi- 
ence to the voice of his countrymen, he first 
stood a candidate for the Presidency. They 
know that the same Ritchie, who derides Gen. 
T/iiLOH, a.s men of proper self-respect would 

scarce deride a clown, and daily charges him ; courts, but by a courtmartial." 
with surrendering his high trust to " an inee-' General Jackson's estimate of Thomas Ritchie 



ponsible cabal," scoffed at Gen. Jacrson 
terms no less vulgar, sneered at his qualifica 
tioiis for the Presidential office, and "deprecat- 
ed hs elect on us a curat upon our country."* 
Yes, the people know that Washington, the 
hero of the Uevolu ion — Jefferson, who draught- 
ed the Declaration of Independence — Madison, 
who carried the country safely and brilliantly 



" I have often heard him (Jackson) use these 
emphatic words: 'RITCHIE IS THE GREAT- 
EST SCOUNDREL IN AMERICA.' 

In another of these letters, Gen. Jackson ia 
stated to have said : " I see that I am attacked 
in Congress by Cooke, Whitman, and Williams, 
aided by thai infamous press, the Richmond En- 
quirer. If such n corrupt press as the Richmond 



throuj^ti the war of 18 12— and Jackson, who won , Enquirer were to approbate my conduct, I should 
for hiinKclf, in that war; the title of the "heroj think that in some unguarded moment I had 
of New (Jrleans," each and all of them committed Bome great moral impropriety." 
felt the sting of political viper«. They could | [Breckenridge's letter t, 

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